Minute on a Common? Understanding of Community Guidelines

RantWoman has been asked whether she is willing to agree to the Minute of Common Understanding of Community Guidelines. RantWoman has dumped the text of this Minute on a common understanding... here because the document cannot be found at the current version of the UFM website If this is the best anyone can do and it is supposed to apply to everyone, not just to RantWoman, RantWoman would tartly suggest posting it publicly. On the other hand, PERHAPS Friends would be willing to try working WITH RantWoman; perhaps a revision might emerge that more fully speaks to what RantWoman understands of  quakerism even in this fragile beset community.

RantWoman expects here only to make a few key points and then to leave point by point work for another forum. 

RantWoman notes reference at the beginning to Quaker processes serving for hundreds of years. RantWoman notes absence of any reference to the Quaker concept of continuing revelation, a concept highly relevant in evolving practices that nurture individual gifts which arrive wrapped in widerly varying abilities and disabilities as we weave together gifts to strengthen community.

 RantWoman enthusiastically believes in shared guidelines to support and nurture community. RantWoman would not mind in the least if this document had included specific references to Faith and Practice or processes for addressing the mishmash of concepts bounced over.

RantWoman finds much in this document that she has no problem with even though the aspirational aspects could perhaps be more fully expressed.

RantWoman also finds points that are mutually contradictory, sloppily drafted and involve concepts which may or may not be understood by others. 

RantWoman notes references to clearness committees, a point discussed in a separate post.

To be blunt, RantWoman is seasoning some experiences that mean she cannot blithely and automatically sign onto these guidelines if they involve swallowing continuing patterns of abuse and silencing, tolerating thoughtless behavior that endangers her and/or others' physical safety, and stalls in lack of TIMELY progress on pathway for continuing revelation about topics such as the technological issues essential for RantWoman's ability to function.

RantWoman also needs to note vigorous objections to the process of creating this document. This document was slapped together in a Meeting for Business from which RantWoman was excluded after a previous Meeting for Business where RantWoman was called in rather challenging form to speak to matters of disability. RantWoman stands by her call to speak. RantWoman stands by the appropriateness of articulating her concern in Meeting for Business. RantWoman is sorry for making the clerk so angry that she stomped out of the room, a point RantWoman did not even realize until someone told her later. Only recently has someone been able to articulate that it was the end of Meeting for Business, people including RantWoman were tired and hungry and RantWoman's comment was not going to change anything in the short term anyway. 

One post relating to the Meeting for Business in question Tenants Transparency Trust post

Another post that encapsulates also another transparency point where RantWoman would be THRILLED if other voices spoke of her concerns so that RantWoman did not have to do all the talking.

Stewardship Due Diligence

That post contains a link about the original business meeting.

RantWoman's bigger process concern: this minute was slapped together in a month and looks to RantWoman like retaliation for speaking out about disability. On the other hand, the clearness committee on disability had a minute ready for MONTHS to bring to Meeting for Business about creating an Ad-hoc committee on Disability. The committee was only created after UFM says it released RantWoman from membership.  under these circumstances NO ONE can release RantWoman either from moral obligation to speak or from call to continue to try to draw out better tendencies among a community that has LONG nurtured RantWoman.

But RantWoman, the Guidelines? Yes or No? 

More Yes than No and yet some really hard NO's. and HOPEFULLY room to continue to work on...

But RantWoman, we don't have time....

RantWoman has said more than enough for today. Either RantWoman will say more herself another day or she will give in to hordes of barfing bedbugs demanding to deviate from their usual Leap day cycles in light of the pandemic and threatening to take over her fingers...

RantWoman, STOP. Can we all breathe?

The Actual Minute on a common understanding of Community Guidelines

GUIDELINES

University Friends Meeting - April 14 2019

At a time when University Friends Meeting is facing challenges to our community life we reaffirm our

commitment to the following beliefs and behaviors. The bullet points below are suggested ways to

implement the guidelines, not hard and fast rules.

Quaker processes and practices have served us well for hundreds of years.

● In business meeting speak only when called on by the clerk and stop speaking when asked to do

so by the clerk.

● Trust that committees are doing their work with their best Light.

● If tempted to speak repeatedly or at length on multiple items in business meeting, remember

that doing so may silence those who are quieter or take longer to be ready to speak.

● Trust the process of corporate discernment. Accept eldering when it comes in a spirit of love

from one of the pastoral care committees. A clearness committee can be a resource for this.

Every member and attender has that of God within them and should be treated with respect.

● Treat Friends with respect. Do not insult or call names, directly or indirectly.

● Be Kind. Do not make hurtful comments in person or by email about another person in the

Meeting.

● Be careful in your language. Do not speak or write disrespectfully of another Meeting member

or attender in spoken, written or electronic communication.

● Assume that others are speaking from their Divine center. Listen openly and do not attribute

intentions, motivations or feelings.

The meeting community as a whole, and individual Friends within the community have a right to

boundaries.

● Boundaries should be respected without blame, accusation, harassment, or questioning.

● If someone asks not to receive certain types of communication, be respectful of that. Check who

is receiving emails and be mindful of people’s preferences when using “Reply All”.

Structural inequalities such as able-ism, classism, or racism are real.

● Recognize that the Society of Friends and the world at large have significant structural

inequalities and that Meeting members have differing experiences of the impacts of these.

● Be mindful of the ways in which the UFM community is participating in structural inequality.

● Strive to recognize the difference between uncomfortable and unsafe when hearing someone

address structural inequalities.

● Speak your truth with love.

Queries

1. Do I speak and act on the assumption that differences in perspective in Meeting are waystations

on a path to unity?

2. When there is a conflict, do I refuse to blame any individual or group? Do I accept conflict as one

way we are led to a fuller understanding of the Light?

3. Are my messages spoken from my own experience with sincerity and integrity?

4. Do I state my position simply as one person among equals? Am I open to convincement by

others in Meeting?

5. Do I monitor myself in the Light when taking offense? Do I refuse to label other friends?

6. Do I acknowledge that none of us is flawless in either public or private life?

Are you willing to accept eldering?

 

RantWoman has been asked "are you willing to accept eldering?"

RantWoman's initial response was "eldering has to be possible both to and from RantWoman. 

After modest consideration, RantWoman needs to back up a couple steps and to expand her thoughts..

First, there needs to be a shared understanding of what eldering is, preferably based both on experience and on materials available to RantWoman in formats accessible both to RantWoman and to others. RantWoman would be very happy to work with whoever is interested, whether on a committee or not to compile suitable materials.

RantWoman will review items tagged Eldering on this blog to see whether she has catalogued some topical materials. 

Recently while discerning about an invitation from NPYM Nominating Committee, RantWoman came across materials from the NPYM M&O Consultation on Eldering  including the . The report out from the consultation Honestly, RantWoman's first reaction: COME ON, this is pretty thin gruel! 

RantWoman says this out of love and concern for the life of the community, not only people who have been Quakers forever and people new to life among Friends. Has RantWoman mentioned fierce leading to nurture care about this topic among people younger than 60? 

RantWoman also says this with some awareness of the deep wells of resources available in the wider Society of Friends.

Next, RantWoman has rather frank and unflattering assessments of some past efforts to elder her. RantWoman had WAY to much fun awhile ago writing a "How NOT to do it" video script related to lobbying. RantWoman would also find it way to much fun to provide comparable scripts based on her experience. RantWoman may or may not wait to be asked. Hold that concern in the Light.

Third, RantWoman has a queue of eldering thoughts she is seasoning paths to deliver. Some are related to the how NOT to do it experiences above. Here are a couple examples. 

Friend if you never ever talk to RantWoman except for messages that sound to RantWoman like "shut up," how do you think that is working? And if it's Meeting for Business and  you accompany that with a shush and unsolicited "hug" that makes RantWoman feel smothered, how do you imagine that is going to be received?

Friend, I feel awkward when I can never ever get hold of you at reasonable hours by phone, how am I supposed to convey concerns? I am not entirely comfortable in conversations when someone laughs about your behavior and I wonder how to get through to you? Also, I have talked to your kids a couple times about blindness in various Children's program events but I have never managed to have an adult conversation about topics such as accessibility and vocational rehabilitation. What are you willing to do to address that concern?

Friend, I notice you wear hats in several different Quaker bodies. Do you feel overloaded? What might you do to grow other Friends' capacity to support some of these activities?

Friend (x at least 2), I notice I seem particularly gifted about making your head explode. I asked the Care and Accountability committee over and over to set up clearness committees to address some of this sensitivity and that was beyond the ken of that committee. Now the community Guidelines mentioned elsewhere offer clearness committees, the same clearness committees RantWoman has previously asked about. What has changed now about Friends' capacity and willingness to provide clearness committees? Would we all be willing to draw on resources from other Meetings in our quarter? What else would help make clearness committee experiences successful? RantWoman has one makes her head explode process terminology issue that Friends can expect to hear more about going forward.

Friend (x at least two retired from different levels of govenment) are you willing to participate in conversations about terms such as reasonble accommodations in your work experience and how these concepts apply at UFM? Are you willing to discuss experience with and modelling of bureaucratic inertia?

Young Quaker Voices presentation at Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting 2021 04 23

RantWoman is thrilled that the Young Quaker Voices program exists! 

Young Quaker voices is a project of the WA state Quaker lobby group Quaker Voice. It provides one-on-one mentoring for people 30 or younger. The participants choose a bill or a campaign to study in depth and to follow during the legislative session.

This video is this year's cohort of participants reporting on their work connected with the 2021 legislative session.

RantWoman is really glad to hear of connections with other groups (including the WA Council of the Blind and the #MobilizeWA campaign aimed at funding better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure throughout WA.

accessibility note: Youtube autocaptioning rocks.

Ashley at Woodbrooke: Evil Queens and wicked stepmothers

 One of RantWoman's favorite things to do these days is to lift up younger Quakers who are doing COOL stuff. A good thorough reading of women in the Bible has been badly needed for a long time. RantWoman has had neither the leading nor the focus to do it. Therefore RantWoman enthusiastically celebrates Ashley Wilco'x work and enthusiastically recommends that Friends check out a series Ashley is doing through Woodbrooke.

Evil Queens and Wicked Stepmothers

RantWoman apologizes for the uninspiring visual presentation. Just click on the link and things will be more visually interesting immediately.

Cool science and powerful metaphors: How trees talk to each other | Suzanne Simard

Yes! Cherice Bock Friend in Residence for NPYM Annual Session July 14-18--and before

RantWoman is so excited that Cherise Bock will be Friend in Residence for the NPYM Annual Session that she almost overlooked the theme: Courage in the face of fear:--Faith Hope Love. 

RantWoman feels very well listened to. RantWoman imagines others might also have suggested that Cherice Bock would be an excellent Friend in Residence, but RantWoman is going to grab every chance she can to feel listened to. More on that in a moment.

North Pacific Yearly Meeting (NPYM) Annual Session is all Virtual this year. All virtual also means not limited to travelling hundreds of miles to spend a few days together. 

Sign up now, by May 1 for 6 weeks of pre-annual session small group worship activities, May 10- June 14

Pre Annual Session Small Group opportunities

Check out the NPYM website for minutes to be seasoned and other updates.

From clerk David Zeiss call

We have been through a year of upheaval and distress throughout our country and our world, bitter divisions in our society, and rampant displays of racism and intolerance. Many people around us are still beset by uncertainty and anxiety. And we realize that in the midst of the urgency of finding wise ways forward through all those difficulties, those difficulties are, in a sense, distractions from the still looming threat of environmental catastrophe.

Nevertheless, we come together again in July to renew and strengthen ourselves and our communities so that we can be the Quakers the world needs!

Our Friend in residence in July will be Cherice Bock. Cherice is a lifelong Quaker and a former co-clerk of Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Antioch University New England. She works as the Creation Justice Advocate at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and has taught courses at the University of Portland, Portland Seminary, and the Oregon Extension in Ashland. Her special interest is ecotheology.

For full details.

NPYM Call to Annual Session which shortly will have fuller information about registration including pre gathering worship groups, interest groups and some volunteer roles.